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F. A. GARDNER.

AUTOMATIC VALVE GEAR. No. 352,238. Patented Nov. 9, 1886.

$3513 alike M421 4 4, (2K5.

ETERS. Phom-Lnhn n her. W-shin wn. D41 3 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FREDERICK A. GARDNER, OF GATS KILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FRED- ERICK GARDNER & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC VALVE-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part! lietters Patent No. 352,238, dated November 9, 1886.

' To aZZ whom, it may concern:

I scribed, and illustrated in Be it k nown that I, FREDERICK A. GARDNER, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, and a resident of Catskill, in the county of Greene and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Auto matie Valve- Gear for Steam-Engines, of which the follow drawings, in which the invention is illustrated Q as adapted to an engine having three cylinders and three valves placed,.respectively, in the same plane, and in which Figure I is' a side view of an eccentric-shaft with the eccentrics and their operating mechanism all in longitudinal section at the axis of the shaft, and the latter adapted to be driven by a toothed wheel secured to the driving or crank shaft and engaging with a similar toothed wheel of the same size secured to the eccentric-shaft. Fig. II is a horizontal section at line A of Fig. I. Fig. III is a transverse section of Fig. I at line B, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. IV is a transverse section of Fig.1 at line 0, looking in thedirection of the arrow at said line. transverse section of Fig. I at line 1), looking in the direction of the arrow at said line. Fig.

VI is a transverse section of Fi g.I at line E, looking in the direction of the arrow at said line; and Fig. VII is a transverse-section of Fig. I at line F, looking in the direction of the arrow at that line, all the illustrations from Fig. II to Fig. VII, both inclusive, representing the parts turned ninety degrees farther around on the shaft from their position shown in Fig.1.

In the drawings, 2 represents the eccentricshaft, which I prefer should be driven by a spur or toothed wheel secured to the crankshaft of an engine and engaging with the teeth of the spur-gear wheel 3, of the same size, se-

" cured to the eccentric-shaft 2. (Shown in Fig.

Fig. V is a" Application filed July 1, 1886. $eria1 No. 206,877. (No model.)

I.) A collar, 4, is secured to the shaft 2, and upon its periphery are made ratchet-teeth 5, and a disk, 7, having a hub is placed on the shaft, to revolve freely thereon next to this collar 4, with a pawl, 17, fixed to the outer face of the disk, to engage with the ratchet-teeth 5 on the collar 4. A weight-bearing disk, 8, provided with a hub or sleeve, is firmly secured or keyed to the shaft, with its hub or sleeve next to the hub of the disk 7, and upon the hub of this disk 8 I place a weight-operating spool,

6, to revolve freely on said hub, and this spool is provided with two horizontal pins, 12, whose axes are one hundred and eighty degrees apart, or diametrically opposite each other. The outer face of the Weight-bearing disk 8 is provided with two weight-pins, 9, whose axes are also one hundred and eighty degrees apart, or

are diametrically opposite each other, and upon each of these pins 9 is hung a weight, 10,preferably of a shape shown in Fig.III, and which lie against and parallel with the face of the disk. Each weight 10 is also provided with a link-pin, 14, to which is attached or pivoted one end of a link, 15, whose other end is attached or pivoted to one of the pins 12 on the weight-operating spool 6, and a volute spring, '13, of suitable strength is placed around the hub of the spring-winding disk 7,and between the latter and the outer face of the weight-opcrating spool 6, with the inner end of the spring secured to the hub of the disk 7 ,and its outer end secured to the spool 6. An eccentric-disk, I

16,is next in place on the shaft, with its eccentric 18 made, preferably, in one piece with its disk 16, and this eccentric-disk is hungto the weightbearing disk 8 by a pivot-pin, '19. (Shown in Figs. I and VI.) p

The hole through the eccentric l8through which the shaft 2 extends-is made curved, as shown clearly at 20 in Fig. VI, and concentric with the pivot-pin 19, upon which theeccentric is hung to the weight-bearing disk 8, so that the eccentric may swing'or oscillate freely to and fro upon the pivot-pin 19 when in place on the shaft 2,when required.

A swing-pin, 2l,(shown in Figs. II, III, and IV,) is secured firmly in the eccentric 18 in a position at right angles, or ninety degrees, to the pivot-pin 19, as shown clearly in Fig. VI,- aud a curved aperture, 22, is made through the weight-bearing disk 8 concentric with the pivot-pin 19, as shown in black lines in Fig. VI, and a curved aperture or slot, 23, is also made in the inner face of the weight-operating spool 6, opposite the curved aperture 22, but at right angles to the latter, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. VI, both these curved apertures being also shown in dotted lines in Fig. III, which is aview of the opposite side of the weight-bearing disk 8 from that shown in Fig. VI, but with one of the weights 10 in place covering the apertures through the disk and spool. The swing-pin 21, secured firmly in the eccentric 18, extends through the curved aperture 22, and into the curved slot 23in the spool 6, so thatif thelatter is turned in either direction the edges of the curved slot impinge against the pin 21 and swing the eccentric 18 on its pivot-pin 19, the swing-pin 21 being free to move along the curved aperture 22 through the disk 8.

Thus far the above description and accoinpanying illustration covers or describes the device as applied and adaptedto a simple engine of a single cylinder, piston, and valve connected with the eccentric 18 by any ordinary eccentric band and rod, 30.

The governing-spring 13 may be set before starting the engine, so that when the latter shall be running at the .desired speed the weights 10 may be thrown out by the centrifugal forcesay with their outer edges at the dotted line in Fig. III. This is done by turning the spring-winding disk 7 on the shaft in a direction to wind or coil the spring 13, which by'its tension also turns the spool 6 on the hub of the disk 8 to the desired position, where it is held by the pawl 17 on the disk 7 engaging with the ratchet-teeth on the cap or collar 4. The free ends of the weights 10 being connected with the pins 12 on the weight-operating spool 6, the weights 10 will be held in toward or against the hub of the spool by the tension of the spring 13 when the engine is not running. \Vhen the engine is started and reaches the desired speed, the weights 10 will be thrown outward away from the hub of the weight-operating spool 6say with their outer edges into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. III; but if the engine should increase its speed from any cause-such as a removal of a portion of the work being performed by it-the weights would be thrown still farther outward by the increased centrifugal force, and this would operate to turn the spool 6 against the tension of the spring and coil the latter a little. In this movementof the spool the edge of the curved aperture or slot 22 in the spool 6 forces the swing'pin 21 toward the outer edge of the spool and swings the eccentric on its pivot-pin 19, changing the line of eccentricity of the eccentric 18 with reference to the shaft 2, and causing the valve to start on its stroke quicker and cut off some of the supply of steam to the cylinder. This will be seen more clearly by reference to Fig. IV.

Suppose, at the ordinary speed of the engine, the line of eccentricity of the eccentric to be indicated by the dotted line a. If the en gine should increase its speed, the weights 10 will be thrown outward and the weight-operating spool 6 will be turned against the tension of the spring 13, and the eccentric 18 will be moved on its pivot-pin 19 across the shaft 2 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. IV, the shaft 2 then being more in one end of the curved aperture 20 of the eccentric, and

the line of eccentricity of the latter with ref erence to the shaft 2 will be indicated by the dotted line I).

Of course, if the engine should move slower than required, the weight-operating spool 6 would be turned in the'opposite direction,and the weights would be drawn in by the excess of tension of the spring over the centrifugal force and the eccentrics moved in the opposite direction across the shaft, which would correspondingly delay the movement of the valve and permit more steam to be admitted to the cylinder and piston,to increase the speed of the engine.

The device is equally adapted for use for engines using a series of cylinders and corresponding valves by adding an eccentric, spool, and intervening disk to the shaft for each additional cylinder and valve used, as will be clearly seen by further reference to the drawlugs.

Suppose that three cylinders are to be used. In that case an actuating-spool, 17, is placed to revolve freely on the shaft 2,next the first eccentric 18, and an actuating-pin, 25, is fixed in the first eccentric 18 on the opposite side of the shaft from the pivot-pin 19, which actnating-pin 25 extends outward into a radial slot, 26, made in the end of the spool 17, as shown in Fig. I, and also in Fig. VII. A holding-disk, 27, is fixed 011 the shaft next the spool 17, and then a second eccentric 18, having a curved opening or hole, 20, through it,is placed on the shaft with thishole 20 one hundred and twenty degrees farther around on the shaft than the same hole, 20, in the first eccentric; and a pivot-pin, 19, isfixed in the holdingdisk 27, andextending into a holein the disk ofthe second eccentric 18, said pivot-pin 19 being also one hundred and twenty degrees farther around on the shaft than the first pivotpin, 19. A swing-pin, 21, is fixed in the second eccentric 18also located one hundred and twenty degrees farther around the shaft 2 than the first swing-pin 21with a curved aperture, 22, made through the disk 27 concentric with its pivot-pin 19 and opposite the swingpin 21, with a similar curved aperture or slot, 23, made in the end of the first spool 17, but at right angles to the aperture 22. The second eccentric 18 is also provided with an actuating-pin, 25, extending outward into a radial slot, 26, made in the end of the next holding-spool 17 both located one hundred and twenty degrees farther around the shaft than the actuating-pin 25 in the first eccentric, so that when the spool 17 is turned on the shaft the swing-pin 21 is moved either toward orfrom the shaft2 by the edges of the curved third eccentric 18 is placed on the shaft adjoining said spool, and finally a disk, 28, or a collar, to secure the whole in position on the shaft. This eccentric is also provided with the same arrangement of pivotpin 19 and swing-pin 21, with the curved aperture 22 through the disk 27, and curvedslot 23 in the adjacent end of the last spool 17, and also the same curved hole 20 through the eccentric, through which the shaft extends, but all in a position one hundred and twenty degrees farther around the shaft than the corresponding parts at the second eccentric. 7

It will be perceived that the operative parts at all the eccentrics are precisely alike and operate'in the same manner to swing the eccentrics across the shaft, but are placed at one hundred and twenty degrees from each other around the shaft, when three cylinders are used. As the first eccentric 18 is moved or swung on its pivot 19 in a direction across the shaft by the rotary movement of the first 'or weightoperatingrspool, 6, caused by the action of the weights 10 and spring 13, that eccentric rotates the next or auxiliary spool 17 by the actuating-pin 25 moving in its slot 26 in said auxiliary spool, and the latter swings the second eccentric on its pivot in a directionacross the shaft, through the medium of the swingpin 21 and the curved slots 22 and 23, through which it extends, and the second eccentric 18, by the actuating-pin 25, rotates the next auxiliary spool 17, which in turn swings the third eccentric by means of the swing-pin 21 and curved apertures 22 and 23. i The spools 6 and 17 are really all precisely alike in theiroperation of imparting the swingthe only difing movement to the eccentrics, ference being that the spool 6 has the weights attached thereto, which operate to give the rotary movement to that spool, and has also the spring attached which controls the amount or extent of its rotary movement. respects their operation is the same. The disks 8 and 2 7all secured to the shaft-are also all similar or alike in their operation, in that they all serve to hold the eccentrics and the operative parts in exactly the same relative position with reference to each other, even while they are being moved, and the disk 8, in addition, carries the weights which operate to rotate the spool 6 into its different relative positions with the disk 8 and control the movement of the eccentrics.

The spool 6 might appropriately be termed the weight-spool, inasmuch as it is actuated in one direction by the weights 10, and in the other direction by the tension of the spring 13, and the disk 8 might be termed the weightdisk, as it carries the weights which actuate the spool 6. The disk 7 might also appropri- In all other i ately be termed the spring-disk, as it is attached to and controls the tension of the spring 13.

It is of course evident that instead of making the weight-disk 8 with a long central sleeve or hub and the weight-spool 6 arranged to revolve on said sleeve or hub the latter might be dispensed with and the weight-spool revolve loosely on the shaft itself, and the apparatus would be equally operative. I prefer, however, to use the construction shown in the drawings, as the hub or sleeve bearing of the disk on the shaf Having thus described. my invention, what I claimas new is' 1. In an improved automatic valve-gear, the

combination of an eccentric-shaft with a collar secured thereon, a spring-disk loose on said shaft, with a ratchet-and-pawl connection between said disk and collar, a weight-disk fixed to said shaft and with swinging weights pivoted thereto, a weight-spool loose on said shaft and connected with the .free swinging ends of the pivoted weights, and avolute spring coiled around said shaft, with one of its ends attached to the springdisk and the gives a longer other end attached to said spool, all forming a device for applying power to move an eccentric on said shaft, substantially as described.

2. In an improved automatic valve-gear, the combination of an eccentric-shaft, a collar fixed to said shaft, aloose spring-disk having a ratchet-and-pawl connection with said fixed collar, a fixed weight -'disk with swinging weights pivoted thereto, and with a curved aperture made through said weightdisk, a loose weight-spool having a curved slot made at an inclination to the curved aperture in said disk and withthe-free ends of the swinging weights connected therewith, an eccentric 'pivoted to a disk fixed on said shaft, and having an elongated hole, through which said shaft extends, and also having a fixed swingpin extending through said disk-aperture and into the curved slot in said spool, whereby the eccentric may be moved on its'pivot to and fro across the shaft by the movement of said weight-spool, substantially as described.

3. In an improved automa'tic valve-gear, the combination of the eccentric-shaft, the weightspool, a series of disks, 8 and 27, a series of pivoted eccentrics, each having an elongated hole, through which said shaft extends, and a series of actuating-spools, 17, each loose .on said shaft between one of said disks and the next distant eccentric, whereby when the first spool is turned in either direction all the cocentrics are moved on the shaft to the same extent, and all the parts of each eccentric are;

FREDERICK A. GARDNER.

\Vitnesses:

' SAML. PENFIELD,

HENRY D. SHORES. 

